The China Securities Regulatory Commission will allow non-nationals employed in China and foreign staff working overseas for domestic listed companies to open mainland securities accounts from Sept. 15.

Eligible investors will still be limited to those from countries whose securities regulators have agreed to partner the CSRC. That currently includes 62 countries and regions and will open up the doors to hundreds of thousands of new investors.

There are only three kinds of foreigner currently able to open share accounts on the mainland: those with permanent residence, those who have set up a foreign-backed joint-stock company listed there and those who work for public companies.